Obituaries

Thelma Jean Shears, age 86, of Howe, Indiana passed away Sunday, May 19, 2024 at the home of her granddaughter in Angola. She was born March 2, 1938 in Coldwater, a daughter of the late Lehman E. and Nelly E. (Yankey) Closson. On Jun 15, 1957 in Bronson, she married Ralph D. “Joe” Shears. He preceded her in death Nov. …

Daniel R. Miller, age 59, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday afternoon, May 16, 2024 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born July 4, 1964, in Sturgis. Daniel was a lifelong Sturgis resident. He married Karen (Gravit) Johnson. Daniel had been employed by several area manufacturing companies. He attended Grace Christian Fellowship Center in Sturgis and had a true …

Ruth Anderson Matazel, age 81, of Three Rivers, passed away Tuesday, May 21, 2024. She was born September 19, 1942, in Berwyn, IL, the daughter of Dwight and Gwen (Nicholas) Anderson. On July 20, 1974, she married John Matazel in Chicago and they moved to southwest Michigan to start their life together. Ruth was a long-time member of Three Rivers …

Adrienne M. Tracy, age 81, of Three Rivers, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, May 19, 2024 in Chicago while visiting family. She was born July 17, 1942, in Chicago, the daughter of Connie and Bernice (Obszarny) Szczublewski. Adrienne and her future husband, Ronald Tracy, grew up in the same neighborhood; in a classic case of a “good girl” meeting a …

Valetta Mae Bender, age 92, of Sturgis, passed away on Sunday, May 19, 2024 at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born on September 24, 1931, in Metamora, IL to George and Mabel (Morningstar) Sharick.  On September 24, 1949 in LaGrange, she married LaVern E. Bender. He died September 11, 2006. Surviving are two daughters, Cheryl Foster of South …

Mary J. Johnson, age 86, of Mottville, died on Friday, May 17, 2024 at Birch Meadows following an extended illness. She was born on August 16, 1937 in Three Rivers, the daughter of Otto F. and Marian Schuman. She lived in the Mottville area most of her life. She was a Homemaker, member of The Board Directors of the Families …

Jane Orcilla Loudenslager, age 92, of Burr Oak, passed away Thursday, May 16, 2024, at Bronson Methodist Hospital of Kalamazoo. Jane passed peacefully surrounded by family. Jane had an interesting life.  She was born in Topeka, KS on April 22, 1932, daughter of Ben and Ida (Greaser) Haney.  Born during the dust bowl and the Great Depression, Jane lived in …

Joseph A. Peoples, age 96, passed away at Fairview Nursing Home in Centreville on Saturday, May 18, 2024.  He was born on September 30, 1927 in Forsyth County, North Carolina the son of Luther and Mary (West) Peoples.  Joseph married Joan E. Griffith in 1992 in Alexandria, Virginia. Joseph traveled the world sharing his woodworking talents with high end curators …

Kathryn L. “Kate” Monahan, age 64, of Fish Lake, Sturgis, passed away Friday morning, May 17, 2024, at her home. She was born September 8, 1959 in Sturgis, daughter of the late Lucille “Tootie” (Emboden) Scott. Kate lived her entire life on Fish Lake in Sturgis and was a graduate of Centreville High School with the class of 1977. On …

Leonard R. Burnham, age 90, of Mendon, passed away on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at Edgewood Health and Rehabilitation in Three Rivers. Leonard was born on November 6, 1933, in Vicksburg, a son to the late Rex and Bertha (Bower) Burnham. On April 4, 1954, Leonard married his wife of 70 years, Marlene J. Wood at the Colon United Methodist …